Ombudsman files plunder charges vs Martin Romualdez over flood control projects

The Office of the Ombudsman on Monday filed a P7.4-billion plunder charge against former speaker and incumbent Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez and three others over their alleged involvement in a kickback scheme on flood control projects.

Aside from Romualdez, other respondents include former House appropriations panel chairperson Zaldy Co of Ako Bicol party-list; Romualdez's personal assistant Joselyn Tragua Sereño; and Felicito Cristobal Guevarra, president of Samchan Foreign Exchange Corporation.

“By repeatedly receiving, directly or indirectly, on at least 15 occasions, commissions, shares, percentages, kickbacks, 'commitments' and/or other pecuniary benefits aggregating at least P7.4 billion by reason or on account of the respective public offices and positions of Romualdez and Co, including monies derived from contractors, persons and entities with interests in flood control, infrastructure and/or other government projects funded under the General Appropriations Acts for fiscal years 2022 to 2025, which monies were delivered to properties owned by, occupied by, or associated with Romualdez and received by Sereño and other persons acting for and in his behalf,” the criminal information read.

Likewise, Ombudsman prosecutors alleged that the P7.4 billion allowed Romualdez to acquire several assets such as:

• property located at 30 Tamarind Road, South Forbes Park, Makati City, through Golden Pheasant, partially funded by simulated dollar-to-peso transactions facilitated by Guevarra through Samchan;
• a real property at 14 Narra Avenue, Forbes Park, Makati City, through Brightnews, the purchase price for which was funded by Trans Middle East (Phils.) Equities. Inc., a corporation closely associated with and/or controlled by Romualdez;
• shares of stock in Prime Media Holdings, Inc., through Valiant;
• shares of stock in DigiPlus Interactive Corporation, through Clearspring, among others.

In a separate press conference, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said that the case they filed against Romualdez and three others is based on airtight evidence.

“Maganda ang pagkakahain namin ng kaso. Dumaan ito sa maraming pagsusuri [This is a well-thought-out case. It underwent thorough evaluation]. His co-accused is Co, one person who works in his home, and a money changer who made ways so launder the money from the Philippines to other countries...for the houses abroad that Romualdez bought from several companies," Remulla said.

“Ito po, base sa ebidensiya. Inabot kami ng pitong buwan sa pagkukumpuni sa kasong ito [This is based on evidence. It took us seven months to build this case],” he added.

In response, Romualdez’s camp vowed to face the charges and said truth must prevail.

“We respect the courts and the legal process. Representative Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez will face the allegations against him in accordance with law,” Romualdez's attorney Ade Fajardo said.

“Representative Romualdez asks for no special treatment. He asks only for the same due process and fair hearing guaranteed to every Filipino,” he added.

Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano filed the charges with the Sandiganbayan at noontime.

"Kaka-receive lang po ng Sandiganbayan ang kasong finile namin [The Sandiganbayan has just received the case we filed]. It will be docketed [and] up for raffle," he said.

The plunder case against Romualdez was raffled off to the Sandiganbayan 3rd Division, according to GMA News reporter Maki Pulido.

The plunder case vs Former Speaker Martin Romualdez has been raffled off to the Sandiganbayan 3rd Division. Also before this division are the plunder case vs Sen Rodante Marcoleta and malversation case vs Former Sen Bong Revilla. pic.twitter.com/6sl6rGT3t8

— maki pulido (@makipulido) September 7, 2026

Also before this division are the plunder case filed against Senator Rodante Marcoleta and the malversation case filed against former senator Bong Revilla.

Romualdez's camp appealed on Sunday to the Office of the Ombudsman for fairness as it sought an opportunity to respond to any new allegations against him.

Romualdez attorney Fajardo made the appeal following reports that former Public Works secretary Manuel Bonoan may be pressured to link the former speaker to the flood control scandal.

“We are requesting the Ombudsman to inform us if there is any allegation from Secretary Bonoan against former Speaker Romualdez and to give us ample time to comment on it,” Fajardo said.

“Fair play and due process require that such information and opportunity be accorded to us at this point in the process, the preliminary investigation stage, not if and when the Ombudsman decides to file charges in court,” he added.

Romualdez’s legal counsel also requested information on the reported 28 new witnesses before the Ombudsman, including any statements they may have made against their client.

“There is also the report that the Ombudsman has 28 new witnesses. We would like to know if there is any statement from them against our client, and we would like as well to have the opportunity to respond,” he said.

The former speaker was first linked to allegedly anomalous projects in September 2025 when contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya revealed the names of congressmen who allegedly demanded kickbacks, during a Senate blue ribbon committee hearing.

One of the congressmen mentioned by the Discayas was former Quezon City 4th District representative Marvin Rillo.

Curlee Discaya told the committee that Rillo mentioned Romualdez's name several times as his close friend.

Romualdez branded Discaya's claim as false, malicious, and nothing more than name-dropping. He said he would not allow lies to pass unchecked.

''Let me be clear: Wala akong kinalaman, wala akong pahintulot, at wala akong basbas sa mga ganyang gawain,'' he said in a statement.

(I have no role and I have not allowed this kind of action.)

''Congress debates and approves the budget. It does not release funds. It does not implement projects. That is the sole duty of the Executive and agencies like the DPWH [Department of Public Works and Highways],'' he added.

Romualdez underscored then that he has never, and will never accept a bribe from anybody.

The former speaker was also mentioned as supposedly having used the Discaya couple as "front" to buy a high-end property in Makati City.

Romualdez however said he has never met the Discayas.

In September 2025, Orly Guteza, who identified himself as an ex-Marine and a former security consultant for then Ako Bicol party-list Representative Zaldy Co, claimed that he personally delivered luggage containing money to the residences of Co in Pasig City and Romualdez in McKinley, Makati City.

Romualdez however said Guteza's testimony was "an outright and complete fabrication".

In February 2026, a group of 18 men who identified themselves as former security personnel of Co — some of them former Marines — surfaced publicly and executed affidavits alleging that they had delivered suitcases of cash to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Romualdez, Co and other personalities. Four of them later recanted their statement.

Guteza also recanted his statement and executed a new affidavit, claiming that Senator Rodante Marcoleta and former House lawmaker Mike Defensor had tapped him to make up accusations against the Leyte congressman in exchange for money and scholarships for his children.

On July 20 this year, the Office of the Ombudsman announced that it is set to file preliminary investigation for plunder and the violation of Anti-Money Laundering Act complaints against Romualdez as a result of its fact-finding probe on his alleged involvement in the flood control anomalies.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla later said his office was very close to finishing its fact-finding investigation against Romualdez over the flood control controversy.

Despite the recantation of Guteza, the Office of the Ombudsman said last August that it still has 28 witnesses who have material information on the alleged links of the former speaker to the flood control mess.

Remulla also said Romualdez's camp was behind the recantation of four former bodyguards who also linked him to the flood control mess.

Romualdez's camp however maintained that there is no credible witness linking him to the flood control mess.

Fajardo said much of the prior 32 accusers of the former House leader have since recanted their allegations, including Guteza.

Romualdez's camp decried on September 1 that the Office of the Ombudsman seems to have "prejudged" him as the mastermind of the flood control mess even before the conclusion of its probe.

“Hindi namin maintindihan kung bakit ganu'n na lamang ang attention na binibigay nila, ang panggigipit nila kay Rep. Romualdez. Eh wala na namang credible na ebidensiya,” Fajado said.

(We don’t understand why the Ombudsman is giving that much attention to Rep. Romualdez when they do not have credible evidence.) —KG/AOL/BM, GMA News